- Diamond Not necessarily colourless It really is not our job here at the International Colored Gemstone Association to tell you all about diamonds. However, diamond is the modern birthstone for April, so we would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about fancy coloured diamonds, which are more to our taste than the colourless type: they're rarer, more valuable, and a great deal more colourful (although the colours do tend to be a little on the pale side). Fancy coloured diamonds are not a mass-market product such as those which are advertised everywhere and sold by numbers. They have more personality than that. Fancy coloured diamonds are almost as much fun as coloured gemstones! Like coloured gemstones, each one is different. They come in fabulously expensive pale pinks and blues, pale to bright yellows, oranges, greens, and all those brown colours that are now given names like cognac and champagne. So, buy a diamond instead of a coloured gemstone if you must, but at least consider a fancy coloured one which will give your jewellery more character, more individuality and more colour!

Semi-Precious Gemstone Guide Precious Gemstone Guide next - exotic gemstone guide Semi-Precious Gemstones Any gemstones that is not a diamond, ruby, emerald or sapphire is a semi-precious gemstone. Calling a gemstone semi-precious does not mean it is less valuable than precious gemstones. Semi-precious gemstones are just usually more abundant (but there are a few exceptions). The value given to semi-precious gemstones depend largely on color, availably and quality. Because these gemstones typically have more sources, they are a good choice for larger, clean-eye stones and come in a rainbow of colors. Some semi-precious gemstones are not stones at all, but are made of organic material like amber, coral and pearl. This guide will reveal details about some of the most popular semi-precious gemstones - garnet, peridot, amethyst, citrine, blue topaz and turquoise. For information on the only semi-precious gemstone that comes from an organism, take a look at the pearl buying guide . Garnet Garnet Characteristics Garnet comes in a rainbow of colors, with blue being the only exception.

The gemstone's principle color is a reddish brown and the red variety called Pyrope is the best known garnet. Garnet is not a specific gemstone. Rather, it is a group of common silicate minerals that have similar structures and components. Major garnet types are Almandine, Andradite, Carbuncle, Grossular, Hessonite, Pyrope, Rhodolite, Spessartine, Topazolite and Uvarovite. Garnet gemstones have been a popular jewelry choice for 1,000s of years because garnet is fairly easy to cut, very brilliant and durable. Garnet Origin In the Bible, Noah used garnet to navigate the Ark through 40 days and nights of rain. This helped the gemstone gain the reputation of guiding its wearers. Garnet has been used for 1,000s of years, dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Jewelry, beads, and bracelets from 3100 B.C. have been found in the Nile delta. Garnet bracelets and brooches were popular in the 1800s.

Garnet in the Victorian period typically was a rosette style, a large stone surrounded by smaller ones. The gemstone is named after the Latin word "granatus" meaning "many seeds" because it was compared to a grain or pomegranate seed. Garnet Folklore Garnet is rumored to increase confidence, courage, energy and security. The gemstone has a high refractive index, which means it's very brilliant. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans thought of garnet as a protective gemstone that would light the night and protect wearers from evil and doom. Travelers carry garnet to protect themselves against accidents. The gemstone symbolizes faith, truth, compassion and fidelity. Peridot Peridot, pronounced "pair-uh-dough," is one of the few gemstones that is only one color - green. Iron makes the gemstone green, although peridot's color ranges from yellow-green to olive-green to brownish-green. The most valued color is a deep lime green with no olive tones. Dark shades of green are more expensive than lighter shades. Peridot is made of the mineral Olivine. Olivine is abundant, but gemstone quality peridot is scarce.

Peridot Origin Peridot was formed in Earth's infancy under intense heat. It's created in magma found in the mantle and spewed to the surface by active volcanoes. Falling to the ground causes the molten peridot to take on a teardrop shape, which is why ancient Hawaiians thought peridot were the tears of the volcano goddess Pele. The volcanic gemstone was first used in jewelry more than 3,500 years ago by the Egyptians. The first peridot gemstones were mined in Egypt's St. John's Island (Zebirget Island) as early as 1500 B.C. The pharaoh's slaves mined the volcano for dark-green peridot in the middle of the night, believing the gemstone couldn't be seen during the day. Peridot was once called the "gem of the sun" by ancient Egyptians. Peridot Folklore Ancient Romans nicknamed peridot the "evening emerald" after its colorful glow among candlelight. They believed peridot jewelry could cure depression, protect them from spells and evil, and provide restful sleep. Peridot was used as an ancient remedy to treat digestive, heart, lung and eye problems.

Sufferers of asthma would grind the gemstone up and swallow the powder and people with fevers would hold the gemstone under their tongue to lessen their thirst. It was believed medicines were more potent when drunk out of a peridot goblet. Peridot was also said to slow aging, provide restful sleep and provide its owner with patience, confidence and influence. Amethyst Amethyst Characteristics Amethyst is the most recognized and precious gemstone in the quartz family. Amethyst is colorless in its purest form and comes in a range of tones - from violet to pale red-violet. The most valuable stones possess deep, cloudless, uniform tones. Large cuts of dark, single-shaded amethyst are rare. Although the gemstone's weight and light refraction is similar to other quartzes, amethyst's unusual structure causes uneven color in the stone. Zones of light and dark color are called banding and are common. Amethyst Origin Ancient civilizations valued amethyst more than today's pricier gemstones. It was as valuable as a diamond until large Brazilian sources were discovered, which increased abundance and decreased the price of the gemstone. For centuries, amethyst played significant roles throughout many cultures, royal families and world religions.

The regal purple gemstone is a long-time favorite among kings and queens, and is present in the British Crown Jewels. Russian Empress Catherine the Great liked amethyst so much, she sent thousands of miners into the Ural Mountains to look for it. Amethyst was an important ornament among Catholic Church clergy during the Middle Ages. The royal purple stood for piety, celibacy and a symbol for Christ. Even today, it's common for bishops to wear amethyst rings. In Tibet, the gemstone was dedicated to Buddha and believed to promote clarity of mind because Buddha considered amethyst sacred. This lead to the amethyst rosaries common in Tibet. Amethyst Folklore Since antiquity, the gemstone has gained notoriety for benefiting those who wear it. Amethyst's legend was born of Greek mythology. It begins with a beautiful maiden named Amethyst who became drunk with wine. Dionysus, the god of wine and song, became angry and tried to slay the young virgin. Artemis, goddess of virginity and hunting, interfered and turned the girl into quartz. Dionysus saw what happened and repented by pouring wine over the stone, staining it purple, but leaving the bottom white.

Ancient Greeks and Romans believed amethysts protected against drunkenness, so the word amethyst comes from the Greek word 'amethystos,' which means 'not intoxicated.' They would mix the gemstone with wine and drink from goblets carved from large amethysts believing it would allow them to drink alcohol without becoming drunk. Many cultures believed an amethyst had the power to provide its owner with protection, defend crops and bring good fortune in hunting and battle. Citrine Blue Topaz Characteristics Topaz is the hardest of the silicate minerals and made of fluorine and aluminium. Pure topaz is clear. Small amounts of impurities tint topaz into an array of colors, including blue, red, yellow, yellow-brown, green, brown and pink. Blue topaz comes in four shades: Sky Blue is light blue, Swiss Blue is medium to dark indigo blue, London Blue is blue-green, and Maxi Blue is the deepest blue. The gemstone usually has high clarity and few inclusions seen by the naked eye. Blue Topaz Origin Topaz was mined by ancient Romans and Greeks and was considered a rare stone until the middle of the 19th century when a large source was discovered in Brazil.

Yellow topaz is the most common. The word topaz was used to describe any yellow gemstone in the Middle Ages. Heat gives blue topaz its color. Natural blue topaz is extremely rare. Blue Topaz Folklore Ancient civilizations thought the gemstone could cool hot heads and turn a pot of boiling water cold. They thought blue topaz could cure insanity, insomnia, asthma and make those who wear it invisible when confronted with danger. In mysticism, topaz is said to make men more handsome, chase away sadness, anger and fear, and protect its wearer from sudden death. Blue topaz gifts symbolize love and fidelity. Turquoise Peridot Quality Factors GemKids Peridot Quality Factors This magnificent 130.60-carat antique cushion-cut peridot displays the gem's finest attributes: a medium-toned, highly saturated yellowish green hue and high clarity. Peridot is readily available for many types of jewelry. It can be very affordable and attractive, even in normal commercial qualities. Peridot can also come in large sizes and very intense colors to satisfy the most discriminating colored gemstone connoisseur. Color Peridot’s color ranges from pure green to yellowish green to greenish yellow.

The finest hue is green without any hint of yellow or brown. The gem’s colors tend to be at their finest in stones weighing 10 carats and above. Lower-quality peridot is brownish. Pure green stones are rare, and most peridots are more yellowish green. The higher-quality stones have an intense color. Most of the stones with the finest color come from Myanmar and Pakistan. Clarity Most of the better-quality, calibrated material and larger single pieces on the market have no eye-visible inclusions, with tiny black spots—actually minute mineral crystals—visible under magnification. Other inclusions common in peridot are reflective, disk-shaped inclusions called “lily pads.” These disk-like fracture inclusions in peridot are descriptively called lily pads. Readily visible inclusions, especially the dark spots, lower the value of peridot. There’s a dramatic drop in value for light-colored material with prominent dark inclusions. If black mineral crystals in peridot are visible to the eye, they lower the stone’s value. Cut Peridot is cut in a wide variety of shapes and cutting styles. Production includes all the standard gem shapes such as round, oval, pear, cushion, triangle, and marquise shapes.

Peridot is popular for some uncommon cuts like the checkerboard. - Courtesy Gem Center Northwest Cutting styles are also well represented. Brilliant cuts with triangular and kite-shaped facets, step cuts with concentric rows of parallel facets, and mixed cuts usually consisting of brilliant-cut crowns and step-cut pavilions are all common. Designer cuts fashioned by hand and machine are popular, as well as cabochons, beads, and carvings. Peridot is commonly cut in standard shapes and sizes for jewelry. - Courtesy Rio Grande Carat Weight Standard peridot cuts for the jewelry industry include a wide range of shapes and sizes. The gem is inexpensive in smaller sizes, but prices rise for gems above 10×8 mm. The finest large peridots come from Myanmar— formerly Burma—and, more recently, from a source high in the Himalayas of Pakistan. More-standard sizes and qualities come mostly from the United States (Arizona) and China. The peridot crystals weigh 128.82 and 393.83 carats, while the cut stones weigh 18.50 to 64.61 carats. All are from Pakistan.

- Courtesy Shades of the Earth Learn More About Peridot Gemstone Birthstones - Astrology and Zodiac Birthstone | Gem Rock Auctions Zircon , Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli Onyx Each Month has one or more gemstones associated with it. We will go over the birthstones for each month. The love of gemstones are selected many times due to birth month. January Birthstone - Garnet Garnet is a beautiful gemstone and is designated as the January Birthstone. Garnet is traditionally thought of as a burgundy red colored gemstone. Garnet actually comes in almost every color available . From Yellow to Dark Brown. There are many types of Garnet some semi precious and some so very precious they are collectable and known by few. Some of the most beautiful gems in the world are garnets. So for those who thought a Garnet is common, well it is not. Garnet is one of the most beautiful and collectable gems on the market. This stone is also given as a present for second Wedding Anniversaries February Birthstone - Amethyst Amethyst is a semi precious gemstone which is available in colors ranging from a light lavender rose color to almost a purple black.

Amethyst is the February Birthstone and is also given as a gift for the sixth wedding anniversary. Amethyst is from the quartz family and can be found all over the world. The most prized Amethyst at one time came from Russia. Today the Russian mines do not produce the famed Siberian Amethyst since the mines have been depleted for many years. Africa is a leading supplier of beautiful Amethyst today with rich Purple gemstones offering pink and red hues. Uruguay is also another famous Amethyst producing region where the colors can have an electric blue flash. Amethyst is believed to induce peace, serenity and temperance in you, plus it will restrict sensual and alcoholic intoxication, which may be good or bad. Amethyst is said to improve your skin and hair, and prevent baldness. March Birthstones - Aquamarine & Bloodstone. Aquamarine is considered a precious gem from the Beryl Family same family as the Emerald . This gem comes in a variety of Translucent/clear to Beautiful light sea blue/green colors. Bloodstone is Green with red spots cut in cabochons form most of the the time but in high quality from can be found in faceted gemstones and is from the Chalcedony Quartz family.

In the Middle Ages the red spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus and the stone was believed to have miraculous powers. Bloodstone & Aquamarine have the attributes of good health, love, youthfulness, and hope. Sailors believe in its protection. These stones are usually given as a gift for a 19th Wedding Anniversary gift. April Birthstone - Diamond Diamond is one of the most precious gems found on Earth. The hardest gemstone and used in many types of Technology other than Jewelry. Diamonds come in a variety of colors from White / transparent to Black. April’s stone the diamond is also believed to heal and are traditionally linked to love, and both endure forever because of diamond’s eternal strength. Although Traditionally diamond is accepted as the 10th and 60th Wedding Anniversary presentations. The Diamonds is traditionally given on the 10th and 60th Wedding Anniversary as a gift. May Birthstone - Emerald Emerald is another precious gemstone loved by many around the world. Some of the most beautiful Emerald comes from Columbia. May’s green emerald is a symbol of rebirth, renewed youth and good fortune.

Emeralds are believed to cure you of bad health, healing a variety of illnesses and insuring good health for the wearer. Also, it was believed that the wearer of emerald could see into the future. The Emerald is given on the 20th and 35th Wedding Anniversary as a gift. June Birthstones Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone Ancient peoples believed the moonstone changed with the phases of the Moon. The pearl is associated with chastity and modesty. Stable marriages are said to be the result of pearls. The Pearl is given on the 30th Wedding Anniversary as a gift. July Birthstone - Ruby Ruby is a precious gemstone found in many parts of the World. Some of the most beautiful Ruby is from Burma. The Burmese ruby has been a favorite for hundreds of years. It has been exported all around the world. Today Most ruby is mined in Africa. Ruby is believed to be endowed with sacred powers by ancient Hindus, and is associated with royalty and power. Rubies will bring harmony of life to the wearer, so one can expect a peaceful life when wearing this stone. The Ruby is given on the 15th, 40th and 80th Wedding Anniversary.

August Birthstone - Peridot Peridot comes in many beautiful shades of green. It is one of few gems that is never treated for color in any way. Mined around the world some of the most beautiful Peridot comes from Asia and Pakistan. Peridot is believed to protect those who wear it from evil, particularly from the forces of darkness. It can also increase the healing power of medicinal drugs. Ancient Egyptians associated the gemstone Peridot with the sun. The Peridot Gem is given on 16th Wedding Anniversary as a gift. September Birthstone - Sapphire & Lapis Lazuli Sapphire and Lapis La zuli are very different gems, Sapphire another Precious gem available in a range of all colors from Clear/Transparent to Black. Many people do not realize sapphires also comes in white, yellow, red, green, orange and other shades other than Blue! Lapis Lazuli a semi precious gem mainly found in a Cabochon form is very unique in color, each stone has a color like no other in a combination of blue, black and gold. Since the Middle Ages many people have given tribute to the sapphire due to both medical and spiritual healing properties.

It is also said Faith and purity will come to those who wear this stone. It is also said this gem gives the wearer useful foresight into the future. The Sapphire gem is given on the 5th, 45th, and 70th Wedding Anniversary as a gift. October Birthstones - Opal and Tourmaline Opal comes in many varieties with values ranging from very little to Thousands of Dollars, Opal is a very popular gem today since many no longer believe it back luck to wear the gem if it is not your birthstone. Tourmaline is a precious gem which comes in a rainbow of colors and can also range in price depending on the type type of Tourmaline bought. October’s opal wards off evil and nightmares. Opals are stones of hope and bringers of the virtues of innocence and purity. Opals stimulate healing and increase friendship and healthful emotions. November Birthstones - Citrine and Topaz Citrine is a Semi precious gemstone belonging to the Quartz Family. Citrine comes in a variety of shades from Very light Yellow to a deep Wine colored burnt Orange color. The most desired Citrine is the Madeira Citrine a deep burnt orange color rich and full beauty!

Citrine is believed to carry magical healing powers through the power of healing and preserving ones sanity. The stone is associated with life and strength of body and mind. It was once thought that the wearer would become invisible when danger was near. The Citrine gem is given on the 13th Wedding Anniversary as a gift. December Birthstones -Turquoise &Tanzanite Turquoise is a very unique gemstone, usually cut in a cabochon form and opaque meaning the gem is not transparent. The gem comes in a variety of shades of blue, blue & black, and also a blue/green with black. The gem can be very costly. Navajo people believed turquoise stones were pieces of the sky that had fallen to Earth. Turquoise is also suppose to brings good fortune, good luck, and a happy life. All things every body wants! The Turquoise gem is given on the 11th Anniversary as a gift. Was this article helpful? ø Peridot | The Gemstone List ø Learn All About Diamond And Gemstone Cuts / Shapes: Peridot Peridot is forsteritic olivine that is of gem quality.

It only occurs in one color - transparent olive green, and it has the chemical formula (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Olivine is made up of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) and fayalite (Fe2SiO4) in varying amounts - in what is known as a "solid solution". Peridot being described as forsteritic means that it is by definition more than 50% forsterite. [1] However, the rich green color is cause by the iron in the mineral. Emerald Cut Peridot Olivine is one of the earth's most common minerals [2] - but most of it is not of gem quality and peridot is somewhat rare. Olivine is also sometimes known as chrysolite, although this can cause confusion as chrysolite was also an old name for chrysoberyl . [3] Peridot has a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale - yet is known to be difficult to cut owing to brittleness. Peridot is another gemstone with an ancient history of use.

It has been found in Egyptian jewelry dating back to almost 2,000 BC, and was mentioned as one of the stones of the High Priest's Breastplate in the Bible. It was also prized by the Romans and used in medieval times. However, most of the early sources of peridot ran out, and after the baroque period faded in popularity. [4] Peridot has a history of being confused with emerald - and some of the emeralds belonging to the famous Cleopatra are suspected to have been peridots. [5] In the 1990s however, peridot saw a resurgence in popularity - due to a spectacular, rich find of the finest quality peridot yet discovered, in the mountains of the Pakistan / Afghanistan border. These stones have become known as "Kashmir Peridots". [4] Peridot is mined in a handful of places - with mines being listed in Burma (Myanmar), Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, New Caledonia (in the southwest Pacific), Norway, Pakistan, Brazil, Spain and the USA.

[6] [7] The mines in Myanmar (formerly Burma) once supplied high quality peridot gems, however Myanmar is no longer considered to be a major supplier, and it's said that since the socialist government rose to power, the supply has been curtailed - for reasons unknown to the west. The majority of the world's peridot (80-95%) comes from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona, USA.[8] Peridot Prices Peridot is readily available for purchase online through various outlets - and "general" prices range from around $25-$100 per carat for stones in the 2-10 carat range. However, as with other colored stones, prices are very diverse depending on color and clarity: Prices "fall through the floor" for lesser quality stones, and go up through the roof for the best ones - with prices for flawless stones in the 50 carat range going over $500 per carat. The largest cut peridot in the world is said by many sources to be the 310 carat gem in the Gem and Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in the USA.

However, [9] mentions a 319 carat gem from Myanmar (Burma) although further details are not given. The most ancient source of peridot, Zabargad Island, which used to be called Saint John's Island, still produces peridot. This island was mentioned by Pliny the Elder in AD 70 in his book Naturalis Historiae. Peridot is the "birthstone" for the month of August. Peridot Gemstone Peridot from Soppat, Pakistan. 5.8cm total length. Photo by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com - image lic. under CC-BY-SA-3.0 Peridot - unfaceted Photo by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com - image lic. under CC-BY-SA-3.0 Peridot - Sources Referenced: Peridot gemstone meaning approx 20 small polished peridot in glass vial - approx 10 grams Peridot Gemstone meaning A tiny island known as Zabargard (owned by Egypt) is documented as the first source of peridot, dating back as far as four thousand years. Early Crusaders who visited St.

John's Island (now called Zabargard) introduced this gem to Europe upon return from battle. Peridot is mentioned in many ancient references as chrysolite. It is mentioned throughout the Bible, and early Christians considered it sacred. Today still, Catholic Bishops traditionally wear a ring of peridot and amethyst as a symbol of purity and morality. The peridot was believed to be a stone of springtime by ancients who considered it a gift from Mother Nature. Napoleon once made a gift of peridot to Josephine as a symbol of undying love and admiration. In ancient times, it was said that a dream about peridot foretold impending danger. Healing qualities of peridot Peridot is a stone of lightness and beauty. Only spiritual or clear-minded persons should use peridot. The person with too many earthly problems will not be able to understand the beauty of the Peridot. The very spiritual can wear peridot in a necklace with the stone at the base of the throat to feel its soothing effect. Used in a necklace, peridot is a protector against negative emotions. Peridot has been known to have healing effect on the gall bladder and liver.

Sources of peridot Peridot is a gem variety from the olivine mineral group. The bottle green color is called peridot. Yellowish green is chrysolite. Olive green is olivine. Sources of peridot include: St. John's Island (Egypt), United States (Arizona and Hawaii), Myanmar, Burma, Australia, Norway, South Africa and Brazil. Peridot Extra Large Tumbled Stones... you will receive the stone in the photo. 1 available of each. #902 - 5.8 grams Swiss Gemological Laboratory: Your Trusted Source for Jewelry Education - Gemstone Guide - Types of Gemstones Gemstone Glossary Gemstone Guide - Types of Gemstone From the very dawn of civilization, man has been fascinated by brilliant, shiny, colorful shells, stones and crystals. Their possession made him more important than others. Gems have always been regarded as bringers of peace, prosperity and happiness. A couple of centuries ago, the terms 'Precious' and 'Semi-Precious' stones came into common use. Although there are many exceptions to this classification, but these terms are still in use.

For example, diamonds have always been considered as precious stones, yet there are diamonds that sell for $100 a carat. On the other hand, there are garnets that sell in excess of $1,000 a carat and garnets have traditionally been considered semiprecious stones. For this reason, now-a-days jewelers often refer to gemstones, other than diamond, as 'Colored Stones'. Traditionally, common gemstones are classified into two categories: Semi-Precious Stones Precious Stones Gemstones which are highly valuable for their hardness and rarity, are known as Precious Stones. Precious Stones are generally expensive in comparison of Semi-Precious Stones. There are only four Precious Stones: Diamond Diamond is also considered as precious gem. Diamond is described extensively in Diamond Guide . Emerald Color - Emerald Green to Dark Green Mohs hardness scale - 7.5 - 8 Mineral Class - Beryl Source - Found in Columbia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Afghanistan, USA Emerald is one of the most fascinating and beautiful gemstones. The name of this remarkable gemstone comes from Greek 'Smaragdos', meaning 'Green Stone'.

Its beautiful green color, combined with durability and rarity, makes it the one of the most valuable gemstones. Deep green is the most desired color in emeralds. The green color of this stone occupies a special position in many cultures and religions. Although Emeralds are notorious for their flaws but still they have been considered as high esteem gems since ancient times. Flawless stones are very uncommon, and are noted for their great value, sometimes even more than diamonds. Its good hardness protects the stone to a large extent from scratches but it may develop internal cracks if banged hard or if exposed to extreme temperature. Emeralds that were treated to mask internal flaws should never be cleaned with an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, nor should they be washed with soap. These practices will remove the oil and expose the hidden internal flaws. Ruby Color - Bright red, brownish-red, purplish-red, dark red Mohs hardness scale - 9 Mineral Class - Corundum Source - Found mainly in Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Tanzania Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, one of the hardest minerals on Earth, of which the sapphire is also a variety. Corundum is the mineral form of alumina which crystallizes in the hexagonal system.

The red color of ruby results from a small admixture of chromic oxide. Only red corundum is entitled to be called ruby, all other colors being classified as sapphires. The most prized tint is blood red or crimson known in the trade as 'pigeon's blood' red. The name of this rich and noble gemstone comes from Latin 'Rubens' for 'Red'. In Sanskrit, the ruby is called 'Ratnaraj', means 'the king of precious stones'. For thousands of years, the ruby has been considered one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth. It has everything a precious stone should have: magnificent color, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities. The most important thing about this precious stone is its color. The red color of the ruby is incomparable: warm and fiery. This gemstone has excellent hardness, durability, luster, and rarity too. Transparent rubies of large sizes are even rarer than diamonds. The ruby is considered as an excellent choice for the jewelry.

Beyond its incomparably rich red hue, which alone might be enough attraction, the ruby is second only to the diamond for strength and durability. Although Ruby is a tough and durable gem, but it is still subject to chipping and fracture if handled roughly. Sapphire Color - Blue, Yellow, Green, White, Colorless, Pink, Orange, Brown and Purple Mohs hardness scale - 9 Mineral Class - Corundum Source - Found mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Australia, India, Brazil and Africa Sapphire is also a variety of the mineral Corundum and represents all the colors except red Corundum, which is Ruby. Its physical and chemical properties are virtually similar to properties of Ruby. Blue is the main color of the Sapphire whereas this gemstone is also found in colors like green, orange, pink, gray, colorless, black, brown, and purple. The word 'Sapphire' in its plain context refers only to blue Sapphire, unless a prefix color is specified. Sapphire with a color other than blue is often called a 'Fancy' in the gem trade. The Sapphire gemstone symbolizes harmony, friendship and loyalty. Sapphire is the most precious blue gemstone.

It is a most desirable gem due to its color, hardness, durability, and luster. Value of this gemstone depends on its size, color and transparency. Top-quality sapphires are extremely rare in all the gemstone mines of the world. Cutting of this gemstone requires great skills and experience and it is the job of the cutter to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the color is brought out to its best improvement. Both Sapphires and Rubies have been successfully and widely produced synthetically in laboratories, and in appearance, chemical composition and hardness are almost identical to the natural gems. France is the major production hub for synthetic Corundum. The Sapphire is also considered as an excellent choice for the jewelry. In terms of hardness and durability, it is second only to the diamond (and equal to the ruby). It can be worn everyday without the caution needed with more fragile gemstones like the opal or topaz. Although Sapphire is a hard and durable gem, but it is still subject to chipping and fracture if handled very roughly.

Semi-Precious Stones Gemstones those are valued for their beauty and not covered under any one of the four ‘Precious Stones’, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby or Sapphire, are known as Semi-Precious Stones. Semi-Precious Stones are available in all price ranges from low priced to high priced. There are many Semi-Precious Stones: Alexandrite Color - Dark to Pale Green (color is changed in different forms of lights) Mohs hardness scale - 8.5 Mineral Class - Chrysoberyl Source - Found mainly in Russia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Burma, Madagascar, USA Alexandrite is a form of the mineral Chrysoberyl, discovered in 1830 in Russia and named after Czar Alexander II, who was then Crown Prince of Russia. This is a very attractive and rare stone, and therefore finely faceted Alexandrite above one carat is among the most expensive gemstones in the world, rarer than fine Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald. The most sensational feature about this stone is its surprising ability to change its color under different forms of light.

Green or bluish-green in daylight, red in candle light, green in fluorescent light and reddish-purple in standard electric (tungsten) light. Amethyst Color - Purple, Pale lavender to deep reddish purple, bluish violet Mohs hardness scale - 7 Mineral Class - Quartz Source - Found mainly in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Burma, Canada, East Africa, India, North America, Russia, Uruguay, Madagascar and Australia Amethyst is a variety of Quartz family, colored by traces of manganese, titanium and iron. Deeper-colored amethysts are more highly valued. Rich purple has always been a rare and noble color. Amethyst’s name comes from Greek word 'Amethystos' mean 'Not Intoxicated' or ‘Not Drunken’. The Amethyst is said to bring good luck and to radiate love. This brilliantly sparkling stone is the most valued gemstone from the quartz family. Aquamarine Mohs hardness scale - 7.5 - 8 Mineral Class - Beryl Source - Found mainly in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique and USA Aquamarine is a variety of mineral Beryl.

This is a fascinatingly beautiful gemstone found in colors like light blue of the sky to the deep blue of the sea. The more intense the color of an Aquamarine, the more value is put on it. Its name is derived from the Latin 'Aqua' (water) and 'Mare' (sea). Aquamarine is one of the most popular and best-known gemstones. Its hardness makes it very tough and protects it to a large extent from scratches. There is hardly any other gemstone in modern jewelry design which is refined in such a variety of ways as Aquamarine. Citrine Color - Light Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Amber-Brown, Brilliant Orange Mohs hardness scale - 7 Mineral Class - Quartz Source - Found mainly in South America, Brazil, Madagascar, Argentina, Russia, Scotland and Spain Citrine is a variety of mineral Quartz and often mistakenly called ‘Topaz’. This radiant, lemony yellow gemstone gets its name from the French word ‘Citrin’, meaning ‘Yellow’. There are not many yellow gemstones in the world of jewels and the Citrine fulfils everyone's color wishes, from lemon yellow to reddish brown, in affordable price range.

Citrine is known as a tough gemstone with good durability. To a large extent, Citrine is insensitive to scratches and thus it is an excellent choice for everyday jewelry. Garnet Color - Light Red, Violet, Red, White, Green, Yellow, Brown, Black Mohs hardness scale - 6.5-7.5 Mineral Class - Quartz Source - Found mainly in Burma, Sri Lanka, South Africa, China, USA, Tanzania, Madagascar, India and Australia Garnet is a family of stones having many varieties differing in color and in their constituents. This name is derived from its resemblance in color and shape to the seeds of the pomegranate. The most common color of Garnets range from light red to violet, but can also be white, green, yellow, brown and black except blue. Garnet Stones are having following known varieties: Grossularite: Grossularite is generally olive green, but there are also yellow, red, brown and violet varieties. Pyrope Pyrope is similar to Almandine, but is lighter in color and brighter, even though it is translucent. It is often mistaken for ruby.

Almandine Almandine is of a deep velvety red and the most widely used in jewelry making. The best stones are those that are not too dark. Rhodalite Rhodalite is half-way between Almandine and Pyrope, being of a rhododendron red color, and is the most prized of the garnets. The fire of top-quality Rhodolite is excellent. Some Other Varieties are Andradite, Essonite, Tsavorite, Spessartite, Melanite, Allochroite, Ouvarovite and Demantoid. This stone has a long history of use as a medicine stone and was used for healing blood and lung diseases. Iolite Color - Violet-Blue, Deep Blue, Light Blue-Gray, Yellow-White Mohs hardness scale - 7 – 7.5 Mineral Class - Cordierite Source - Found mainly in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Brazil The name Iolite comes from the Greek word 'Ion', which means ‘Violet’. Iolite is often confused with Tanzanite because of its similarity in color.

Generally, Iolite is a deeper shade of violet, with hues ranging from deep blue, purple, lavendar, and gray-blue. This gem was actually used as a navigation tool by Viking explorers. Thin pieces of Iolite were cut and used as polarizing filter lenses. Looking through the lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun and use it to guide them to the New World and back. Iolite is relatively hard but should be protected from blows. With its attractive color and reasonable price, it may become a jewelry staple in the future. Onyx Color - Black, White, Black with White bands, Red, Brown Mohs hardness scale - 6.5 - 7 Mineral Class - Quartz Source - Found mainly in Madagascar, India, Brazil, United States, Pakistan and Sri Lanka Onyx is a beautiful gemstone composed of chalcedony (a variety of quartz). This gemstone usually comes in white, black or black with white bands and it is generally dyed black to improve its color. The bands that are found on Onyx run parallel and are consistent. It is extremely similar to Agate, another variety of quartz. Agate bands are round or circular and are not consistent.

Onyx which is available in a red, brown or reddish brown color is known as Sardonyx. Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name comes from the Greek word 'onyx', which means nail or claw. In fine jewelry, the black backdrop is often supplied by onyx. Black Onyx gemstones with white bands are generally used into cameos and beads. Opal Color - Black, White, Gray, Yellow, Red, Orange and Colorless Mohs hardness scale - 5 - 6.5 Source - Found mainly in Australia, Brazil, Mali, Japan, Russia, USA, Mexico Opal is a very popular gemstone, mainly due to its wonderful variety of rich and beautiful colors. One of the extraordinary features of this gemstone is called Opalescence. Opalescence is a kind of light play that happens with certain high quality stones. Light reflects and bounces around the very small structures of the stone, giving it a wonderful aura and sometimes iridescence. The name Opal is derived from three sources: Sanskrit ‘Upala’, Latin ‘Opalus’, and Greek ‘Opallios’. All three of these words mean the same thing – precious stone.

The group of fine Opals includes quite a number of wonderful gemstones. These gemstones are differentiated on the basis of the variety, place of occurrence, and color of the main body, into Dark or Black Opal, White or Light Opal, Milk or Crystal Opal, Boulder Opal, Opal Matrix, Mexican and Fire Opal. Opals come in many colors, including black, white, gray, yellow, colorless, orange and red. Red is considered the most popular and attractive colors that Opal comes in. There are usually two types of red colors – cherry red and fire red. Fire red is usually the most popular and possibly the most expensive due to its wonderful hue. Australia is the major supplier of Fine Opals and almost 95 per cent of all Opals come from Australian mines. Opal is made from sand and water. It has the same chemical formula as quartz with the addition of 3 to 10 % water content. And due to this reason, opals must be protected from harsh light and heat, which could dry it out and cause cracks. Opal is relatively less hard than many other stones and must be worn with caution and care to avoid chips or other breakage.

Opals come in many attractive colors, shapes and sizes and are used on many types of ornamental jewelry including rings, earring rings, brooches, charms, bracelets, etc. Pearl Color - White, White tinted with Cream, Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown, Purple, or Black. Mohs hardness scale - 2.5 - 4.5 Source - Found mainly in Persian Gulf, China Sea A Pearl is an organic gem, produced when certain mollusks, primarily oysters cover a foreign object with beautiful layers of nacre. A good sized Pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. There are two types of Pearls: Natural Pearls, formed inside wild oysters, practically impossible to find nowadays, and Cultured Pearls in which the production of the pearl is artificially induced. For producing cultured pearls, shell beads are placed inside an oyster and the oyster is returned to the water. When the pearls are later harvested, the oyster has covered the bead with layers of nacre.

The finest Natural Pearls are fished almost exclusively from the Persian Gulf and the China Sea, while the best cultivated ones come from Japan, Korea and more recently Australia. Fine Natural Pearls are much more expensive and rare to find than Cultured Pearls. Pearls are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, purple, or black. Pearls are available in different shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and ringed. Perfectly round Pearls are the rarest and most expensive. Pearl is a rare and living substance and should be treated with great care. Peridot Color - Yellow Green, Olive, Brownish Green Mohs hardness scale - 6.5 - 7 Mineral Class - Olivine Source - Found mainly in Australia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, China, Burma, Arizona, USA, Pakistan, Afghanistan The Peridot is a very old but still very popular gemstone. It is a verity of mineral olivine. The color of most gemstones is caused by traces of other elements but the color of Peridot is an integral part of its structure.

Chemically Peridot is an iron-magnesium-silicate. The intensity of the color of the stone depends upon the amount of iron contained. The beauty of Peridot is a result of extreme conditions. Peridot is formed deep within the earth under tremendous heat and pressure. This gemstone is in fact identified by three names, Peridot, Chrysolith and Olivin. ‘Peridot’ is derived from Greek word ‘Peridona’, which mean ‘giving plenty’. The word ‘Chrysolith’ means ‘goldstone’ in Greek. It is one of the few stones that exist only in one color. The most beautiful Peridot comes from Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. It is also found in Australia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, China, Burma, Arizona and USA. Peridot is used in rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets. Tanzanite Color - Deep Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Light Violet-Blue, Purple Mohs hardness scale - 6 - 7 Mineral Class - Quartz Source - Found in Tanzania Tanzanite is an extraordinary and beautiful gemstone.

Tanzanite is a blue variety of the gemstone zoisite discovered in 1967 at Merelani Hills in Tanzania. It is named after the East African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where it has been found. Due to this reason, this stone is particularly highly prized. Tanzanite is a trichroic gem which displays three layers of color. The colors dark blue, green-yellow and red-purple can be seen. Nearly all tanzanite has been heat treated to generate the beautiful violet-blue color this stone is known for. Although Tanzanite is relatively new on the gemstone market, but has left its mark. Tanzanite is popular for its brilliance and widely distributed gemstone. But on the same time, Tanzanite is a delicate gemstone and it should always be worn carefully. Never clean tanzanite in an ultrasonic cleaner or resize or repair a Tanzanite ring set without having the gem removed because the stone could shatter in the heat of a torch.

Topaz Color - Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, Yellow, White, Gold, Colorless Mohs hardness scale - 8 Mineral Class - Topaz Source - Found mainly in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Burma, Nigeria, USA, Australia, Madagascar and Mexico Topaz is a member of Quartz family. This beautiful gemstone most commonly found in yellow color. A Topaz turns a vivid blue when exposed to heat. Also the Topaz is said to have power of changing color when it’s near poison. The name topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Tapas’, meaning ‘Fire’. Although Topaz is considered tough and durable gemstone but still it is not an invincible stone. It cracks and chips easily than many other gemstones, and should be treated with care. Tourmaline Color - Black, Red, Pink, Blue, Green, Grey and Yellow Mohs hardness scale - 7 – 7.5 Mineral Class - Quartzite Source - Found mainly in Brazil, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, USA Tourmalines are gemstones with deep brilliance and incomparable variety of colors.

These Gemstones are mixed crystals of aluminium boron silicate with a complex and changing composition. The name tourmaline comes from the Singhalese words 'tura mali', means something like 'stone with mixed colors'. Tourmalines with different colors have different names. For example, a tourmaline of an intense red is known as a 'rubellite', but if it changes the color on change in the light source then the stone is called pink or shocking pink tourmaline. Stones with two colors are known as bicolored tourmalines, and those with more than two are known as multicolored tourmalines. This gemstone has excellent wearing qualities and is easy to look after. No two tourmalines are exactly alike. In the fascinating world of gemstones, the tourmaline has a very special place. 6 Choices of Libra Birthstone | Kamayo Jewelry 6 Choices of Libra Birthstone by Deomar Pandan Libra people are intellectual and nice, and birthstones for Libra have been identified for centuries. These Libra birthstones act as charm or lucky stone for Libra, mostly to help the Libra-born people face challenges and give them strength of purpose.

Do you know the different Libra gemstones? Here is a list of lucky stones for Libra people. Talismanic: Agate Peridot Besides being identified specifically as Libra birthstone, peridot, also known by its old name chrysolite, was the traditional birthstone for September in the old Arabic, Hebrew, Italian and Russian calendar. This Libra gemstone occurs as beautiful transparent olive green stones. Peridot Bracelet Peridot is said to enhance the potency of medicine, and reduce stress. This birthstone for Libra is also believed to protect its wearer from negativity, and is helpful for the Librans who, though not natively negative, are often intellectual enough to see the other side of the coin, and the constraints and challenges that their endeavors might entail. Lapis Lazuli Bracelet Lapis Lazuli Lapis lazuli has been made the modern birthstone for the month of September in Britain. A relatively rare semi-precious stone, this Libra birthstone is prized for its intensely blue color. Like peridot, lapis lazuli relieves negative emotions, including fear and jealousy.

This Libra stone is representative of the zodiac sign in that lapis lazuli is believed to stimulate awareness and creativity, helping to expand a person’s point of view. See also Lapis Lazuli: Stone of Purity . A shell fossilized in opal Source: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 Sapphire, the zodiac stone for Taurus Source: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 Opal Opal was the traditional birthstone for the month of October in the Ayurvedic or old Indian calendar, and was made the modern October birthstone in the Western calendar. This Libra birthstone was held to be a symbol of hope and purity by the Romans, and was thought to keep the wearer safe from illness. Sapphire Sapphire is the planetary stone of Venus, the ruling planet of Libra, and in this regard is deemed a Libra birthstone. This Libra gemstone is also the modern birthstone for the month of September in the Western calendar.

Most famous for its deep blue color, the birthstone for Libra belongs to a group of minerals called corundum, and occurs in other hues except red, with which the mineral is called ruby. The Libra stone is believed to bring inner peace and spiritual enlightenment. Green Agate Necklace Agate Agate is the talismanic stone for Libra. Talismans are amulets or other pieces of jewelry believed to give its wearer magical powers. Libra talisman is engraved on agate, which is a banded variety of chalcedony. Agate is believed to increase intelligence in a way that the Libra birthstone enables its wearer to see the truth, and at the same time keep the person calm and focused by helping him accept the circumstances. See also Agate: Stone of Prudence . Green Aventurine Bracelet Green Aventurine Green aventurine is a gemstone for Libra in Hindu astrology. This Libra birthstone is a green variety of quartz characterized by translucency. The Libra gemstone is believed to keep out negative emotions and strengthen will, giving the often indecisive Libra person a definiteness of purpose. See also Green Aventurine: Stone of Luck .

Mar 13-Apr 13 Other Libra Stones Sodalite is also listed as Libra birthstone in Indian astrology, but the birthstone is one that is shared with Sagittarius. Moonstone is Libra stone in Vedic astrology as well, but the gemstone is most popularly associated with Cancer. There are other stones out there that contemporary people would tell you are Libra birthstones. It is up to you to decide if these gemstones are indeed Libra gemstones. These modern gemstones for Libra include ametrine, aquamarine, bloodstone, aventurine, emerald, green tourmaline, chiastolite, Herkimer diamond, lepidolite, kunzite, sunstone, stichtite in serpentine, morganite, tourmalinated quartz and prehnite. Which Libra birthstone is your favorite? Peridot

Question: What colour is the semi-precious stone peridot
Answer: Green